Master Bedroom in Residence 52C by De Sousa Hughes (Photo: Matthew Millman )

For decades the San Francisco Decorator Showcase has reigned supreme. But this year San Franciscans have had a few additional opportunities to see Bay Area designers flex their creative muscles and also illustrate a more modern side of interior design.

During the Summer we all enjoyed the “Modern by Design” showcase sponsored by Metropolitan Home at 2201 Baker Street and “Design Above All” at One Rincon Hill, which we covered here.   And in the Fall,Millennium Tower’s “Icons of Design” showcased four condominiums which exemplified high-rise living at its most elegant.

The Millennium Tower is considered one of San Francisco’s most luxurious high-rise apartment buildings.  The project garnered a lot of attention recently when Tom Perkins purchased the Grand Penthouse A on the 60th floor, paying a reported $9.35 million for a mere shell.  Mr. Perkins’ real estate agent Katy Dinner said that her client, after a long search for the perfect pied à terre, eventually chose the Millennium penthouse because the building was superior to anything else available: the unit had a 600+ square foot deck, and it was completely customizable, as it was delivered as a shell.

This project would have certainly been a coup for any local interior designer, but the coveted job went to Ken Freivokh Design in the UK who had previously designed the legendary venture capitalist’s sailing yacht the Maltese Falcon.

I had the pleasure of a private tour given by Mr. Perkins to Katy and me one evening when he showed us how it will be all laid out.  I learned that the 4,750 square foot penthouse will receive unique details such as an interior jungle and orchid garden, with massive statues on the expansive deck.  I am certain it will be one of the most amazing pied à terres in San Francisco.

Both penthouses on the 60th floor may be taken, but the 52nd floor has four grand residences available, affording almost equally stunning views and having been elegantly transformed by some of San Francisco’s most talented interior designers and architects. Unlike the “Design Above All” showcase, where four designers decorated an apartment each, more twenty nine designers participated the “Icons of Design” showcase. Styles are mostly modern with occasional traditional detailing sprinkled in.

For my complete article please visit SFLuxe

Cheers,